Long Beach's Temple Israel vandalized with anti-Semitic graffiti

LONG BEACH — A Jewish temple in an upscale Long Beach neighborhood was vandalized Monday night with anti-Semitic graffiti. | » POLICE NEWS

Police were on the scene Tuesday morning to investigate the vandalism at Temple Israel, 269 Loma Ave. in Belmont Heights. By 9:30 a.m., workers had painted over the graffiti.

The graffiti included anti-Semitic words and symbols about 2 feet tall written in red spray paint on the white front wall of the building.

According to the police, a passer-by spotted the graffiti about 10:30 p.m. Monday and police were investigating the incident as a possible hate crime. Police said all other Jewish temples in the city were checked and no vandalism was found.

The leadership of the temple chose not to comment on the incident.

The temple reopened about two weeks ago following a yearlong renovation. Temple Israel was built in 1941, though its original location was on Anaheim Street when it first began serving the Jewish community in 1924.

It is the oldest Reform Jewish temple between Los Angeles and San Diego, according to temple officials.

About 500 families from Long Beach, Los Alamitos, Seal Beach and Cerritos attend services at the temple, according to officials.

Anyone with information on the incident is urged to call the Violent Crimes Detail at 562-570-7250. Anonymous tips can be made to 1-800-222-TIPS, texting TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES, or at lacrimestoppers.org.